Hello Everybody!
I've already gotten some feedback, good and bad, in such a short amount of time. So, I'd just like to start by saying thank you! Also, I want to shed some light on something: I'm going to include quotes in every chapter I write. With that being said, I want y'all to know that some of them will be relevant to the chapter itself, while others will not be relevant at all. Yep, so here's chapter two.
Enjoy!
"Believe you can and you're halfway there." – Theodore Roosevelt
Judy POV
7:30
Morning.
We sat together in rollcall as we waited to be assigned our daily duties as partners. Vociferous murmurs could be heard in the crowded room that held over thirty-plus mammals. Nick and I conversed quietly amongst ourselves in the single chair that we shared until a certain buffalo stormed into the room.
"Listen up!" Chief Bogo yelled, causing all the animals in the room to silence themselves. "We have three different cases. Officers McHorn, Trunkaby, Delgato: bank robbery in Sahara Square. Snarlof, Higgins, Wolford: missing mammal in the Rainforest District. The rest of you carry on with your daily assignments."
I jumped down from my seat, Nick right behind me, and proceeded to the door to go about our regular day. Our daily assignments were to patrol the city in the cruiser and make sure all is right in the city. We'd been doing so for a little over a month now. I was just about to walk through the door when I heard my name called, along with Nick's.
"Hopps, Wilde!" Bogo's deep voice halted me in my tracks. I turned around to find him advancing toward us with a red file in his hooves. "I have an assignment for you."
"What is it, sir?" I asked, my ears perked up with curiosity and excitement.
"There have been numerous reports of loud screaming in the middle of the night in a residential home in Tundratown. It hasn't been confirmed, but we think the cries might be coming from a female rabbit. I need you two to investigate the area and find as much evidence as you can. Are you up to it?"
"Yes, sir!" I squealed with enthusiasm.
"Good. Dismissed."
I skipped joyfully into the parking lot to find our black and white police cruiser waiting for us. "I'll drive." I said as I hopped into the driver's seat and waited while Nick clambered into the passenger's side. "Wow! This is so exciting!" I nearly sang as I pressed down on the gas and exited the parking lot.
"Yep," he sighed.
"C'mon, Nick! This our first real case together as partners! Aren't you even a little happy?" I shot him a playful glare and lightly punched his arm.
"Yeah, I am."
I wasn't convinced, but I let it go with a small laugh. "Where are we going?"
"Tundratown," Nick said sarcastically, smirking at me with half-lidded eyes.
"I'm so glad I have my dumb fox to state the obvious," I giggled and returned his smirk.
"Your dumb fox?" he asked, causing my ears to burn hot as they fell to my back.
"Uh… you know what I mean…"
"I'm just messin' with ya, Carrots."
He chuckled lowly to himself, and I laughed nervously as I tried to shake the butterflies from inside my belly. I can't believe I said that… I thought to only myself. "But seriously, Nick, where am I supposed to be driving to?"
"Eight-nine-two-six Avalanche Avenue. The file shows five complaints within the last two months, and it says that the alleged abuse is from her roommate… Uh, it doesn't say what type of animal her roommate is, though."
"All right. Thanks." I gave him a quick smile before refocusing on the road in front of me.
"So…Carrots?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm your dumb fox?" He smiled wide to himself, and I could feel the heat rushing back into my cheeks and ears. "You're my cute bunny."
"Don't call me cute!" I glared at him but couldn't hold it when I saw his smug face. "You're such a jerk, Nick!"
"Aw, c'mon, Carrots. That hurt." He gave me the puppy-dog eyes and a small whimper. I just laughed at him. "Besides," the smugness returned to his face, "you know you love me." He winked at me before hiding his eyes under his sunglasses.
"Do I know that?" I took a long pause and waited. Nick lifted his shades and gave me a pouty look. "Yes. Yes, I do," I concluded with a smug grin.
"Aw, that wasn't nice!" he snorted, placing his shades back over his emerald eyes.
"Ha-ha! But it was funny!" I gave him a wink and continued driving to our destination.
Nick POV
9:13
"Nick. Nick? Nick!" I awoke to a pair of lilac eyes staring down on me. "There he is! We're here," Judy whispered.
"Sorry, Carrots. I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"Heh, it's all right. Come on, we need to scope it out, and unfortunately, we'll probably need to come back later tonight… or stay here until then."
"Ugh, why?" I scoffed and rubbed the back of my neck.
"Because the reports say that it goes on at night, Slick. Get up, lazy bones!"
"Okay, okay." White fields of snow and ice surrounded us, and houses covered in frost towered over us. I stepped out of the car and immediately shuddered. I knew I should'a brought a jacket. Or two…" I thought as I looked over to see Judy shaking where she stood. "It's a cold one this mornin', huh, Carrots? Explain to me why we didn't think to bring jackets to the coldest district in the city?"
She laughed at me before coming closer to me. "Survival 101?"
"Okay, get in here!" I grinned as I wrapped my tail around her."
She looked content, and I wondered what she was thinking.
"What are you staring at?" I hadn't even realized I was staring at her. Oops…
"Huh? Oh… uh, nothin', Fluff. Let's go."
We walked up to the front door of where the file claimed the rabbit lived and knocked on the door. No answer.
Thud thud thud.
Still no answer.
"I guess she's not home right now. We'll come back later," Judy spoke low and with a shaky voice that indicated she was still freezing.
"Sounds good. Would you like to go get some hot chocolate? I don't know about you, but I could sure use some heat." I shot her my signature smirk and she giggled in reply. "Is that a yes?"
"Mhmm! I could use a nice meltdown, too."
We trekked through the snow huddled together for warmth, which to my surprise, felt comfortable. I always hated how mammals gave Judy and me disgusted looks, like they disapproved of a fox and a bunny being friends. And yet, I always wondered what it would be like if we were more than friends. Of course, I would never wonder those thoughts aloud due to the fact that she'd probably be repulsed if I did. So, like many other things, I just kept that to myself.
"Any ideas on where we should stop?" Judy's voice pulled me from my thoughts. She looked up at me, waiting for me to respond.
"Yes, actually. Are you hungry at all?" She thought over my question for a few seconds, pondering a reply.
"I could eat. Why? What're you thinking?"
"Well, I have an old friend that owns a pretty cozy cafe. She's got a good menu and hot chocolate that'll make you drool," I explained. "You in, Carrots?"
"That sounds great! Yeah, let's go," she smiled and pulled me along.
"It's right on top of that hill. I think you'll really like Ruby; she's very sweet." We arrived at the aforementioned cafe given the name, Ruby's, after the owner.
